[Seamus]

I'm not quite getting why upgrading to a 500 mhz G4 would cost me 300 bucks. An intel chip produced when the 500 mhz g4 was made sells now for around 50 bucks. Anyone know why the upgrades are so darn expensive?

[TheRoadWarrior]

Too small of a market.

AMD sells more processors every quarter than every Mac user buys every year.

And the interface on Apple's motherboards being non-standard with regards to how the G4 actually mounts doesn't help either.

Plus, the cache adds even more cost.

Intel and AMD processors simply plug into the motherboard and that's it. The CPU upgraders who make the G3/G4 upgrades not only have to do R&D but buy the processors and mount them on their cards.

It's a grossly inefficient system and everyone pays more for it.

[l008com]

Originally posted by TheRoadWarrior:
Too small of a market.

AMD sells more processors every quarter than every Mac user buys every year.

And the interface on Apple's motherboards being non-standard with regards to how the G4 actually mounts doesn't help either.

Plus, the cache adds even more cost.

Intel and AMD processors simply plug into the motherboard and that's it. The CPU upgraders who make the G3/G4 upgrades not only have to do R&D but buy the processors and mount them on their cards.

It's a grossly inefficient system and everyone pays more for it.

But it keeps people buying new powermacs, which in the end, is good for apple, which is good for us.
I'm on the fence about just how far I should upgrade my dual 533, or if I should wait another upgrade cycle or two and just buy a new machine.

[engage1000]

They charge so much because they know they can get away with it!!
People who are looking into processor upgrades need them, and most probably can't afford a new Mac. They prey on this, and charge a huge amount of money.

Bloodsuckers!